Shadowcast
03-18-2009, 10:03 PM
With the warming temps snook and redfish are becoming very active on the flats of Eastern Tampa Bay. Sight fishing these two species on fly has been the preferred method when the winds are light. Both species can be found following the tide up to the mangroves. Redfish will tail in areas with broken bottom. Snook will sun themselves on the lighter sand in front of mangrove shorelines. Both species will be in less than a foot of water, so stealth is paramount. Poling your skiff and not using the trolling motor will get you in areas withoput spooking the fish. Clear floating fly lines (www.monic.com) will add another degree of stealth by not allowing a line blast from overhead to spook the fish. Finally, fluorocarbon leaders in lengths of 7-12 feet and testing 12-16 pounds will increase your chances of getting bit. If you use clear fly lines, shorter leaders can be used and you will get better fly turnover. Crab and shrimp patterns (TK Special, Kwans, and Lantham's Crab) will work best for both snook and redfish when sight casting. When the tide gets higher, search flies (Dupree's Spoon Fly, Olive Sea Ducers, and EP Everglades Special) will work best to find the snook and reds. Most of the reds have been between 22-30 inches. They are beginning to show up in little schools on the flats. If you see one or two while poling, slow down and work the area. There are sure to be more around. Incoming tides and mid morning major solunars are conditions that will provide optimum conditions this weekend.